Kid Stuff

Parents and educators too often feel that protecting children against the corrupting influences of the popular culture is futile. This incisive collection of essays offers a helpful understanding of the toxic nature of today's media and some real solutions for providing children with needed guidance. The book is the rarest, and most valuable, form of critique: it exposes an alarming condition that we have come to accept as inevitable and then shows how we can fight our way to a healthier future. -- William Damon, Director, Stanford Center on Adolescence, Stanford University

Robinson, Stacy L. SmithAmerican children spend a substantial part of their lives watching television and movies, playing video games, and listening to music containing explicit sex and violence. From Doom and Grand Theft Auto III to Eminem and Marilyn Manson, a strain of the popular culture has become increasingly toxic. One of the most pressing-and controversial-issues facing parents and educators in America today is understanding how exposure to these media affects the social and psychological development and behavior of children and teenagers. In Kid Stuff, Diane Ravitch and Joseph P. Viteritti bring together experts in media studies, child psychology, and public health to assess the dangers posed by "tox pop" to American society. Drawing on thirty years of research, the contributors find convincing evidence that such "entertainment" can harm children and teenagers, despite the self-serving denials of the media industry. Balancing their concerns for the welfare of children with respect for the First Amendment, Kid Stuff furthers the ongoing dialogue about how a democratic society can protect its children from the pernicious extremes of popular media. Contributors: Craig A. Anderson, Jeffrey Jensen Arnett, Peter G. Christenson, Edward Donnerstein, Jeanne B. Funk, Todd Gitlin, Kay S. Hymowitz, Elisabeth Lasch-Quinn, Nell Minow, Newton Minow, Thomas N. Robinson, Stacy L. Smith